Apparatus for and method of making circular locking bands for caps or closures



y 1944- I L. R. N. CARVALHO 2,348,957

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIRCULAR LOCKING BANDS FOR CAPS on 'CLOSURES 7 Filed Sept 12 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l Lesa'eRNCamiUw May 16, 1944. L. R. N. CARVALHO 2,343,957

' APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIRCULAR LOCKING BANDS FOR CAPS OR CLOSURES Filed Sept. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1944. CARVALHQ 2,348,957

' APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIRCULAR LOCKING BANDS FOR cAPs OR CLOSURES Filed Sept. 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Leslie RM aamirw IH llll May 16, 1944. R. N. CARVALHO 2,348,957

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIRCULAR LOCKING BANDS FOR CAPS 0R CLOSURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 12, 1941 f 1165566 fijvrm/amo 61 Eda/Qfiimrze Patented May 16, 1944 ArPARATUs FOR Ann mi'rnonor V CIRCULAR LOCKING BANDS FQR CAPS oa CLOSURES Leslie R. N. Carvalho, New-York, Y.', asslgnor i toiCrown Cork & Seal. Company, Inc., Brooklyn, 1 N. Y., acorporation of New York 7 Application September 12, 19 1, Serial No. 410,622

r '11 Claims. Thisinventionrelates to an apparatus for and method of making circular locking, such as threaded bands for use with cap'or closure shells, thereby to providean improved concealed lock ing or thread closure or capfor glass or other containers and, more particularly, it relates to the dies and method by which these bands are efficiently and economically produced without endwise stretching ofthe, metal strip or the formation ,of split and defective threads.

In the formation of what areknown as con cealed thread caps, it hasbeen attempted, when aband is used to carry the thread, to roll the thread on the band or strip as the strip is being curledand then solder an overlap the'en dsv of the strip when applied 'to the "shell, relying upon expansion of the band' t'c tak'eiup variation in the glass'finish but it isdifijicult toassemble'such a band with thecap shell since, whenthe band comes out of the curling unit, it is spiral in form and does not set snugly-in the outer cap shell. However, by means ofthe present improved dies, the strip can be die-stamped to form the band, thus avoiding this spiral formation so that when the band is bent at its hinge-connected portion,

it [forms a 'perfect ring with theendsiof the band abiitting, no overlappin'g or soldering there- In the" present improvement, the thread'fis In short, the present method of making this cap by forming the band in the improved-manne'r; hereinafter disclosed, that is, stampingthe band with its thread instead of rolling it in a threading machine as heretofore, not only results in a more perfectly shaped band'iand thread but also asteeper thread, that is, ione which has greaterangularity'thana rolled thread, thusjproviding a thread with a relatively flat thread engagingsurface wherebggreater variation in the glass finish is permissible.

Byzthis improved die apparatus an fihlja, therefore, not only is thethreaded band formed mor pra t ca iand;econqmical; s; h t ii with the endsabutting and, Without overlapping and .having'nbg'expofsed edges tothe metal and whereby, also, ither'i'edge of thel'band maybe inserted into the "shell since .the thread starts and terminates at both, ends Qf 'the strip opposite the hinge. thereofl a'nd whereby, alsogthe annular outer; margins or rims off the 'bandfabove, and below the threadv willfextendin parallelismfwith the shell skirt and engage throughout, their width against the inner, Wall of the shellfobtaining not only a pejrrect,s'ur'aportjor the threaded band but for'ming" annular shoulders to, insure retention of the liner in'. thecaplf. f Zthe-thread isstampedout, it thereforfhas fa 'greater angularityi than a rolled thread to provide relativelytflat thread engaging surfaces which are highly desirable. .j It is well known that you cannotfget'fa square v or angular thread ina'r'olling machina-thatlis a,fiat thread or a thread having Ha'fiatthread engaging surface such as is obtained; by stamping out the thread, Q C'ap companies, for years, have been trying to produce a :thread'with a hat top surface, for this ,would be the ideal thread and the reason for thigiis that there (are, two vkii'idsiyiif,pressure in applying a screw cap to a container, one a sealingflpressure and-the otherawedging pressure, When the wedging'pressure exceeds'the sealing pressure, the cap will cook up ori'onelsideofgthe glass under certain conditions 'elimina'tingany possibility of obtaining a' uniform pressure on the liner to get areal seal and this isbecause, when the glass thread of the jar or container'and the thread on the cap are similarly formed with curved surfaces-and arolled thread must have acurved surface+the thread on thecaprides up on the curved thread-oi the container. With the ordinary rolled'th'read there is also difficulty in unscrewing a cap from a jar because it wedges whereas, with the present stamped-out thread, a better seal is obtained and yet thecap will come off more easily than if the thread'isrolled. The best thread that could be used on aglass jar or cap is a square-sidedor angularthread, that is, one. having, aflat engaging'surf'acebut glass manufacturers d not make that kind of a glass thread but-only threads with curvedgsurfaces although they endeavor to give the under side or engaging side of the thread-aiflat; surface where it approaches the jar. Conseguentlma thread on a cap that will have this flat engaging surfacaeven though it be used' in-connectio'n with thethread on a jar as now made withcurved surfaces, has abetter engaging and holding face is more 1'eadilyassembled; to form a perfect ring 5:; than if it had a curved engaging surface and the Thus, in the present improvement, as the thread is stamped-out, it has a flatter surface on the top and bottom to engag'e the' thread;glass or otherwise, of the container since the'cor'ners' are more abrupt or angular than that of any Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and its mode of operation, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and that the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

-"I he lower-orbase half 2 of the die consists of '-a suitable support 3 carrying two half or semirolled thread could possibly be-,f or the simple reason that the rolls of arollingmachine-cam not form angular corners in the metal such as are made by stamping. It has been found impossible, perience, to produce a pair of united orhin ed semi-circular band-formed sections by dies where these dies are'bf solid formation without excessive endwise stretching of themetayorin juring 'orbreaking the threads but, by "means of the present improved dies, uniforml formed bands'can be obtained. without stretching the metal endwise'or in anyway injuring the threads, it beingobviousth'at, unless the bands are uniform, they would be useless; Theba'ndsar'e shown formed at their outer margins with a pair of relatively narrowannular rims d' (see Fig. 11) spaced apart by a relatively wide ra'i'sed panelb carrying the stamped-up thread 0, shown as a single thread, the pairof outer rims (1 being in position to parallel and rest firmly against the inner wall of the shell flange or skirt of the cap throughout their width and are supported thereby in a firm and practical manner. "These annular rims d are, as" stated, separated by a relatively wide raised thread-carrying panel I), the thread of which is shown starting and terminating at the free ends of. the band opposite the'hing'e thereof, which formationpermits the band to be readily inserted in thesfhell with eitheredge at the top thereof while the relatively wide panel carrying the thread isflin'po'sition" efiiciently to take up any variation in the glass finish of the container.

I n the' drawin'gs accompanying and forming'a part of this specification, Fig. i is a front view ofth'e assembled die. Fig 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2-- 2-of ZEig..1. F -.1,

, ,a perspective view of thelslide port n the i -Fig. l is a perspectiveview of the blank stripper or knock-out member. I 1 :EigjisarearviewofFig; 1. Fig; 6 is a partly sectional viewon line 6-6 of Fig. 5.. e

Fig. 7 isae view illustrating. the first step in the formationoithis improved band.

Fig. 8illustrates. the next succeeding step in the formation of the band. v :Fig; 9 is 'asection on line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Fig:-10is a-view of the metal blank or strip fromwhich the band is formed in position to be stamped; r 1 -Fig. ill-illustrates the band after it is complet'elystampedl a -Fig. '12 is an edge view thereof with the stripper in position. a I

Figs.13,-14,15 and 16 illustrate defective bands resulting from attempts to produce them by solid dies i. 2

by practical "ex circular 'die' blocks 4 suitably mounted on the base which also has a table 5 for guiding the blankstrips a. into position to be formed. This table has suitable guiding or positioning means a and gauges 6 and 6' for properly guiding and positioning the blanks.

The half sectional blocks 4 are formed on their semi-circular peripheries so as to provide the stamped-up threaded panel b, I: having the pair of annular rims d'(Fig. 1'1). Between these center blocks! a blank control or movable knock-out I is located andfguided properly to position and support a blank on its under side midway of its length, it being actuated by any suitable means, not shownjto knockout the completed bandfrom Thepfun'eh orupper'half 8 of the die is shown supported for' shiftable movement on a pair of upright posts Qcarried by the base and is provided with a sliding die-carrying member It) so that, as the upper half 8 0f the die is shifted downwardly toward the base 2, this sliding die member-I0 will be shifted upwardly against the action of suitable elastic means such as rubber means or springs I I. This sliding die member III issuit'a-bly supported by guideways I0 formed on the upper half of the 1 die and carries a series of sections, three or more, forming a pair'of complete spaced semi-circular arches having their arcuate inner peripheries formed to' cooperate with the outer peripheries of the die m ck I 1 As' shown, the die sections carried bythe'slide III of the movable die member or punch 8 comprise a center section I2 fixed to the slide I0 and so formed as to provide a pair of spaced areshaped quarter sections I 2" and I 2 merginginto a blank strip engaging portion I2' so located as to engage the blank strip midway of its length directly above the knock-out member I;

Shiftable in the arc of a circle relativeto"this center section I2 are a" pair of wingjsectiq'ns I3 and I 4, each likewise carried bythe sliding memher I 0 and shown pivoted thereto'andfprovided with arc-shaped inner 'peripheries i3"jand I I forming continuations of those on 'the rigged sec- 't'ion; The adjoining edges of these sections I2 I3 a'ndflfl are so formed as to permit th'e'proper swinging movement ofthese wing sections. 1 'fl Thesewi ng sections I 3 and I4 are providediwith springs I5 at their outer sides or ends for swing ing them outwardly away from the center section. f Inthe operation of this improved die, the blank or strip e'is placed on or automatically fed to the table'iof the'lower die 2 with each end of the blank against a side gauge 6 to position the blank.

in positioh byfl'so'me suitable pressur and serves the double purpose of supporting the blank at its under sidewhil'e the center portion 12" of the length on its top face sothat, by-this fixed die fsectionrholds theblank' centrally of its means, travel ofthe blank is under control. 1' :1 I L y The-actionof the punch orupper half 8-- of the dieis two-fold. lASiil isshifted downwardly, the .center part I2Z'. of 1th e,fixed center-section of the die presses against the top surface of .the strip 1 of b1ank ,1 and the :paneland thread portion of thisfixedsection are the iirst to engage and form part otthe threads on the blank strip so that as this upper half of the, diepontinues downwardly, the center part [2 oftheiixed section IZ first engages the upper surfaceof. the blank -midway :of its lengthand clamps the strip and then the threadsof-thisflxed center section l2 engage and Q m a cartel t d on t b a k As h punch orupper half ii of the die continues downwardly,fthe.wing sections I3 and Mare shifted tow a-rd each otherby reason of the factth at as the upper name of the die moves downwa qdly, the sliding section lil thereo f carrying these wing sections is; forced .upwardl'y" againstfits elastic means'or springs H, thus completing the semi- Therefore,'as the punchoruppr die' member 8 movesclownwardly', the blank is first engaged midway of itslengthby the center section [2 of the die cooperating with the knock-out member I; and thus clamps it in contact therewitlrwhich pre- ,v e'nts' movement of the blank in any direction.

As the top] die'ojr'punch,flfcontinuesto move down, the center section I2 startstlieff ormationof the panel, thread and annularjrimsand further against the action of the elastic means cooperating therewith, whereupon the threaded portion of the blank is compl t 'This' operation isshown'in Figs." 7 and 3, Fig. 7 illustrating ftheposition of the ,upper die or punch when it first engages the blank stripand" the the die, Fig. 7 also illustrating the positionof'the outer endsfofthe blank strip and wing sections l3 and M at this time, and Fig. 8 illustrating'the positiono'f the wings 13 and I4 whenshifted toward circular panel and thread torrnationof the blank.

each other and the complete" formationpi the band. i Thus, the upper dieCB moves downuritihth'ecenter portion of the fixed section! 2-fully engages and clamps the blank; at which time the thread has not yet been formed but; a's'the upper die member or punch continues i its downward movementJthe die starts to'form 'the'threa'd from the center toward the outer ends and-further downward movementof the die,-by reason of the sliding movement of the diese'ct-ion carrying member ID and the pressure of the-elastic means thereon causes the wings IB- and 44' to} be compressed toward the center'portion' of the die and so complete the formation of thethread and form the strip r or blank. into I two semi-circular sections .bendablymounted or hinged at their inner ends e,

each provided with ar'aised panel 1) carrying a thread cJand-apair of annular'rims d forming liner --retaining shoulders so that when these two semi-circular sections 'a'rebent at the hinge e to form a complete ringor, band, it can be readily inserted into the capishell and secured therein in any suitable manneras, for/instance, by bending the loweredge of the. shell skirt over one of the annularrimsd- Duringthe formation ottthe band inthemanwing sections pivotedflto the shiftable member and-also" having concave arc-shaped peripheries also bent outwardly to-form a pair of angular por- :tions '18 'whichengage each other when the band is bent into circular formation to prevent overlapping 0f the band in the cap.

As hereinbefore stated, attempts to make this improved band by means of solid dies without the ,Wing sections has resulted in endwise drawing of the metal strip to such an extent that not only are the threads-split or broken and imperfectly formed see .19 inFigs; 13,15 and 16) but the ends of the band are'so drawn out as to provide an excess of metal in the band (see 20 in Figs. 14 a'ndl5) thus preventing its insertion into the cap shell and while,. in practice, the metal of the blank made inth Way shown and described herein is stretched slightly 'sidewise to form the panel rims and thread, there is virtually no lengthwise stretching as is the case where solid dies are used. "Aftr the blank is properly formed, the upper die moves upwardlyand the stripper or knock- "out 1 is actua'tedto release the blank from the llowerdiel. f

1 In practice,"these'dies maybe used in the ordinary and well-knownelectricpunch press and the die can be made reversible', the wings beinglocated'on the base and the cooperating fixed die 'blohks on the movablesection or punch of the 'die'.

"WhilefI have shown and described herein the formation of a band having a raised lengthwise extending panel Z7; for the purpose of taking up "variations in th'e'thr'eads' of the glass container and having shouldered annular rims d and bent abutting edges I8 with the panel provided with a single thread 0 starting and terminating adjaoent. the edges of the panel, it is obvious that other forms of locking means can be provided on the paneland that also various shapes of sec" 'tional semi-circular hinged bands can be formed by thisimproved method and apparatus. T' gIt isfto be understood that, by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure or ar r e'tng ement,"itis not intended to limit the invention beyond the terinsof the several claims each other, one carryingffixed die elements and th e'oth er carrying an elastically controlled shiftable membena'sectiohal die carried thereby com-- prising a center section fixed with respect thereto and having a pair of concave, arc-shaped peripheries'spaced at their inner ends to form a blank engaging portion thereby to provide a hinged connection in the blank, and a pairof shiftable forming continuations of the arc-shaped periphcries of the center section. 2; -The'method of forming a circular locking 'ban'd'for a closure cap comprising a pair of semicircular hinge-connected portions having container locking means or a thread and which consists in progressively and ina single operation vfirst clamping a blank strip midway of its length,

then exerting pressure thereon from the center thereof outwardly partially to bend the strip up- Y 'wardlyupon itself .to form a hinge and a part perjust described,theputervends otthe band are. 1o'f the locking means'or thread and then" exerting circular. hinge-connected portions further pressure on the remaining outer end portions of the strip to complete the semi-circular portions and the locking means thereof.

3. The method of forming a circular locking band for a closure cap comprising a pair of semicircular hinge-connected portions having a lengthwise extending raised panel provided with container locking means or thread and which consists in progressively and in a single operation first clamping a blank strip midway of its length, then exerting pressure thereon from the center thereof outwardly partially to bend the strip upwardly upon itself to form a hinge and a part of the locking means or thread and then exerting further pressure on the remaining outer end portions of the strip to complete the semi-circular portions and the locking means thereof.

4. The method of forming a circular locking band fora closure cap comprising a pair of semilengthwise extending raised panel provided with container locking means or thread and a pair of annular 'rims and terminating in a pair of bent ends adapted to abut when the band is bent to circular form, and which consists in progres sively and in a single operation first clamping a blank strip midway of its length, then exerting pressure thereon from the center thereof partially to bend the strip upwardly upon itself to form a hinge and a part of the locking means or thread and then exerting further pressure on the remaining outer end portions of the strip'to complete the semi-circular portions and the locking means thereof.

5. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal.

band having a plurality of arcuate sections connected at their adjacent ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape for insertion into a closure shell, com'prising relatively movable die-carrying members, co-= operating sets of die elements fixedly carried thereby, one of said sets comprising elongated arcuate convex die surfaces arranged in longitudinal alignment and providing a substantially V-shaped space between their adjacent ends, the other set' comprising arcuate concave die surfaces arranged in longitudinal alignment facing the first-mentioned die -surfaces and providing a complemental, substantially V-shaped projection adapted to enter said space and to clamp the band and first form the reverse bend and the inner end portions of the arcuate sections upon converging movement of said members, relatively movable die elements carried by one of said members and having surfaces aligned with and constituting arcuate continuations of the other die elements carried thereby and facing the elements of the other set, and means for moving the relatively movable die elements into operative relation to said elements of said other set to form the outer end portions of the arcuate sections after the first-mentioned die elements have completed at least a portion of their functions,

6. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal band having two substantially semi-cylindrical sections connectedat their inner ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape for insertion into a closure shell, comprising relatively movable die carrying members, cooperating sets of die elements fixedly carried thereby, one of said sets comprising elongated arcuate convex die surfaces arranged in longitudinal alignment and providing a substantially V-shaped space between their adjacent having I a band having two substantially semi-cylindrical ends,th'e other set comprising arcuate concave die surfaces arranged in longitudinal alignment facing the first-mentioned die surfaces and'providing a complemental substantially v-sha'ped projection adapted to enter said space and to clamp the bend centrally thereof and to first form the reverse bend and the inner end portions of the semi-cylindricalsections upon converging movement of said members, a pair of relatively movable elements carried by one of said members and having surfaces in alignment with and constituting arcuate continuations of the other die elements carried by that member and facing the elements of the other set, and means for moving the relatively movable elements into operative 'relation to said elements of the other set to form the outerend portions of the semi-cylindrical band sections after the first-mentioned die elements have completed at least a portion of their functions. I

, '7. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal band having two substantially semi-cylindrical sections connected at their inner ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape'for insertion into a closure shell, comprising stationary and movable supports'carrying cooperating arcuate dies fixed with respect to their respective supports, the dies carried by one support comprising convex die surfaces p'o'sitioned in alignment and providing a V-sha'ped space between their adjacent ends and thedies 'means for actuating the movable dies after the fixed dies have performed at least a part of thei function.

8. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal sections connected at their inner ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape for insertion into a closure shell, comprising a stationary bed having upwardly projecting convex substantially semi-cylindrical die block thereon, a downwardly movable member above the bed carrying relatively fixed arcuate die surfaces shaped to form, with said die blocks, the inner portions of the semi-cylindrical sections adjacent the hinge and a pair of wing members pivoted to the downwardly movable member and having die surfaces constituting continuations of the fixed die surfaces and shaped to form, with said die blocks, the laterally outermost portions of the semi-cylindrical sections.

portions of the semi-cylindrical band sections, and a pair of movable die members pivotally connected to said other member and having concave. substantially quadrant die surfaces constituting lateral continuations of said relatively fixed die surfaces, and means for urging the movable die members into cooperative relation to the laterally outermost portions of the die blocks, to form the outer end portions of the band sections.

10. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal band having two substantially semi-cylindrical sections connected at their inner ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape for insertion into a closure shell, comprising a stationary bed, a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical convex die blocks projecting upwardly therefrom, a downwardly movable head above the bed, a slide carried by the head and having arcuate die surfaces fixed with respect thereto and shaped to form, with said die blocks, the inner portions of the semi-cylindrical sections adjacent the hinge, and a pair of wing members pivotally connected to the slide and having concave arcuate die surfaces constituting continuations of the first mentioned arcuate die surfaces and shaped to form, with said die blocks, the outer end portions of the semi-cylindrical sections.

11. A die assembly for forming a threaded metal band having two substantially semi-cylindrical sections connected at their inner ends by a reversely bent hinge and adapted to be bent into cylindrical shape for insertion into a closure shell, comprising a stationary bed, a pair of semi-cylindrical, convex die blocks projecting upwardly therefrom, a downwardly movable head above the bed, a vertically movable slide carried by the 20 first mentioned arcuate die surfaces and shaped to form, with said die blocks, the outer end portions of the semi-cylindrical sections, and means for actuating the wing members upon downward movement of the head relative to the slide.

LESLIE R. N. CARVALHO. 

